The Nation Newspaper

Tag: plans

  • For MTV EMA 2013, plans have begun —As show goes to Amsterdam

    For MTV EMA 2013, plans have begun —As show goes to Amsterdam

    THE 20th edition of the prestigious Europe Music Awards otherwise called MTV EMA, has been fixed for Sunday November 10, 2013 in Amsterdam.

    Organizers announced, Tuesday, describing Amsterdam as the renowned ‘culture-capital’ of the Netherlands. The show holds at Amsterdam’s new Ziggo Dome.

    The MTV’s global awards show is an event that highlights the year’s hottest musical artistes from around the world. Its last outing was a record-breaking performance last year, in Frankfurt, Germany.

    “We’re very excited to partner with the city of Amsterdam, a true world class music city and top destination for artists,” said Bruce Gillmer, Executive Vice President of Talent and Music Programming/Events, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). The “2013 MTV EMA” is expected to air across Africa on MTV (DStv Channel 130) on Sunday, November 10th, and on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) during the week commencing November 11th.

    “Each year, the MTV EMA celebrates the biggest names in music from every corner of the globe and showcases unbelievable performances from today’s most exciting acts. We’re confident that Amsterdam, and the cutting-edge Ziggo Dome, with its state of the art facilities, will be the perfect setting for what will be a very memorable and spectacular ‘2013 MTV EMA,’” Gillmer enthused.

    “I am thrilled to see the MTV EMA return to my home country, the Netherlands,” commented Dan Ligtvoet, Managing Director, VIMN Northern Europe. “Amsterdam already served as the backdrop for the legendary MTV Europe launch party at the Roxy and we will make sure that, with this year’s MTV EMA, the citizens of Amsterdam and the entire Netherlands will be treated again to a star-studded music extravaganza – which at the same time will allow us to showcase our Dutch audience’ zest and enthusiasm across the globe.”

    In the words of Vice Mayor of the City of Amsterdam, Carolien Gehrels: “We are honoured that Amsterdam has been selected to host the 2013 MTV EMAs. This is great news for the city for a number of reasons: it promises to be an exciting event for young people and music lovers in the city, it will provide opportunities for businesses in these difficult economic times and it will allow Amsterdam to raise its international profile: a great event at an ideal moment.”

    Also speaking, co-founder, Ziggo Dome & former CEO, Mojo Concerts, Leon Ramakers: “From its conception, we were determined to bring the MTV EMA to the Ziggo Dome. We’re very pleased that MTV shares our enthusiasm for our new venue and we can’t wait until 10 November!”

  • Lagos Assembly plans review of law on fireworks

    DISTURBED by the havoc wreaked by the Boxing Day firecracker explosions in Central Lagos, the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday mandated its legal department to look into the laws controlling the importation and use of fireworks into the country.

    The review is to curb the indiscriminate use and storage of firecrackers in its domain.

    This decision was reached at the resumed plenary session yesterday, after the member representing Lagos Island Constituency 2, Hakeem Masha, raised the issue of the fire outbreak that occurred at Oroyiyin/Jankara area of Lagos Island under Matter of Urgent Public Importance.

    The early morning fire left at least one person dead, many injured and properties worth several millions of naira destroyed.

    Masha, who said the fire outbreak as a resulted from indiscriminate use and storage of fireworks, noted that Wednesday’s incident was disastrous and tragic.

    The lawmaker urged the House to look at the laws on the use of fireworks, insisting that people now use and store firecrackers indiscriminately, a practice he blamed for the disaster.

    Masha said: “We use fireworks indiscriminately in this part of the world and the way we store them is also not proper.

    “I want to suggest that henceforth, those that will be involved in the importation of fireworks to acquire licence to that effect, so that when a thing like this happens, we will know who to hold responsible.”

    Masha’s colleague from Lagos Island I, Wahab Alawiye-King, recalled that fireworks were used during the opening and closing ceremony of the just concluded Sports Festival held in Lagos without any incident.

    He described as wrong the way residents use fireworks.

    Alawiye-King urged the House to make a law that will curb the indiscriminate use and storage of fireworks, adding that nowadays. “It is difficult to differentiate between the sound of a firecrackers and a bomb,” said

    He said the trend is dangerous to security in the Centre of Excellence.

    The member representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency II, Ipoola Omisore, also urged the House to put a law in place that will prohibit erecting shops and warehouses in the same place with residential apartments.

    House Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, however, called on all Lagosians, particularly shop owners, to desist from storing explosives at home “and those who deal in this kind of business should not stockpile them where people are residing.

    “We also urge the legal department of this House to help us look at the law that has to do with fireworks, so that we can look at working on the indiscriminate use.

  • Otunba Lekan Osifeso plans mother of all parties

    Come Saturday December 22 , top socialite and executive Director of Bulletin Construction Company, Otunba Lekan Osifeso, will give his late father, mother and step-mother, Chief Oluwamuyiwa Adeyemo Osifeso, Mrs Olufadebo Osifeso and Mrs Olayinka Osifeso a befitting remembrance party and special prayer.

    Happenstances gathered that Chief Olumuyiwa Osifeso and his wives, who died many years ago, were enviable parents deserving of Lekan and siblings’decision to stage a special remembrance party and prayer for their departed souls.

    Lekan, also the Chairman of Lekai Construction Company, possesses the financial clout and influence needed to pull the creme-de-la-creme of high society to the event. As part of the bid to immortalise his parents, Lekan and family will launch a foundation in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. It was also gathered that in order to make the party a grand one, a committee has been constituted to make sure the A-list party goes according to plan.

    The committee members include the Chairman of Bulletin Construction, Chief Faysal Harb; Hon. Sade Bent; Chief Jide Odekunle; Alhaji Bashy Kuti; Hon. Leo Awoyemi; Gbenga Akinbobola and Shina Abiola Peller. Those who should know say the December 21 party will feature fuji music maestro, K-1 the Ultimate, on the bandstand while a popular comedian will anchor the event. After the church service, a reception party will follow at the Ijebu Ode township stadium.

  • ‘Nigerian farmers without succession plans’

    Many Nigerian farmers have no succession plan, an expert has said.

    Speaking with The Nation, the Managing Director, Talon Nigeria, Dr Lanre Talabi, said most farmers didn’t have succession plans because they don’t consider agriculture a dependable source of livelihood.

    He believes that lack of formal succession planning could add a considerable risk to the agricultural sector, with so many people quitting farming for other vocations.

    According to him, farmers without a succession plan do not involve their children in the running of the farm or the business on a day- to-day level.

    This lack of involvement, he noted, could impact negatively in the short and long term, because they don’t have successors to manage the farm after their death. Because of this, he said more farmers work beyond retirement age.

    Talabi said he has a succession plan in plan to ensure smooth transition. Some farmers, he said, continue to work to earn a living out of the farm throughout their retirement, adding that the proceeds can’t take care of an extra partner.

    He said returns from the farms cannot guarantee regular income in retirement adding that some don’t have capital asset to pass onto the next generation.

    For watchers, succession planning has to be considered far earlier and in a more formal way than it. There are growing concerns about farmers who work beyond the standard retirement age and frequently farm to an advanced age. Concerns border on health and safety needs and challenges. At a time of physical diminishment, older farmers face increased vulnerability to injuries and illness and may continue to perform tasks beyond their ability to safely accomplish the work.

    Reacting to the issue, the Managing Consultant, BA Consult, Mr Biodun Adesina said as self-employed workers, farmers can’t help continuing to farm – often at a reduced scale. Since they – don’t earn wages, he said they will not be able to retire at the age at which wage and salary earners quit the job. Unlike the rest of the population, he noted that farmers tend to remain in farming beyond the normal retirement age. It is not surprising to see farmers in their 70s still farming full-time.

    For watchers, with a large population of older farmers, retirement planning, including farm succession decision-making, is of considerable importance to farm households. On the balance, lack of interest in farming among heirs is the reason why older farmers don’t plan succession. Experts, however, canvass smooth and equitable transfer of the farm assets in families where some heirs intend to farm while others do not.

  • Copa Lagos organisers unveil plans

    Copa Lagos organisers unveil plans

    ORGANISERS of the forthcoming, COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament have said it was going to be the best interactive ever.

    Kinetic Sports Management has released their plans on how they intend to make the 3-day Beach Soccer tournament holding between December 14 and 16 a huge success via social media.

    Already through Facebook fans are able to have their say on which teams will participate in the competition. Organisers have introduced a prediction app which allows fans to have their say on who they would like to see this year. The app has proved itself to be a popular new feature, those successful in predicting the correct teams will land themselves some hot prizes. Fans are being told to make their predictions as soon as possible, the first team to compete at this year’s Copa Lagos is due to be announced on Monday 24th September.

    This is not the only feature, the 2nd edition will feature live match day updates via twitter. The events army of twitter fans will benefit from live updates, caption competitions, the ability to vote for their man of the match and many more. Management intend to give fans a greater say in the tournament and boost engagement to create a whole new generation of Beach Soccer fans.